Lubricating means



W. O. BECHMAN Nov. 14, 19.44.

' LUBRICATING MEANS v original Filed June 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov.14, 1944. w o, BECHMAN 2,362,443

LUBRICATING MEANS original Filed June 16, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2'Patented Nov. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-1GB@ v 2,362,443 .e t

LUBRICATING MEANS f n 1 f -f William O. Bechinan, Chicago, Ill.,assigner to` y v 'Y International Harvester Company, a corporation ofNew Jersey viding for a return or venting-ofA the lubricant fromthe-bearing surface. lThis application is a division of my applicationSerial No. 398,206, filed June 16, 1941, now Patent No. 2,349,898,entitled Lubricatingmeans One particular .instance in which vtheinvention nds its greatest utility is in connection with the lubricationof the track rollers of aftrack-type tractor. In such a tractor, atractor body-is carried between a pair of track-laying mechanisms, eachof which comprises a pair'of longitudinally extending track framescarrying a pluralityof .track rollers. Each track roller is mounted on ashaft disposed horizontally of the track frame. A substantial part ofthe weight of the tractor is carried on the track rollers, which engagethe track chains which in turn rest upon the ground.

Because of the unusual conditions under which a track-type tractor isoperated, extraordinary lubrication problems arise. Most of the failuresof the track rollers to receive proper lubrication can loe-traced to theneglect on the part of the person servicing the tractor to determinecorrectly whether the rollers have reecived the proper supply oflubricant. This neglect is due in most instances to the inability of theservice man toinspect the rollers, rwith the result that the tractor isoften operated while certain vof the rollers have received little lor nolubricant;

Onel particular problem attendant uponthe lubrication of track rollersis that certain of the rollers lose their lubricant because of failureof f the track seals to maintain the lubricant therein against theexpansion of the lubricant .caused by overheating of therollers.Accordingly, certain of the rollers become Worn out before others andrequire either replacement or special care in connection with thelubrication thereofin the event that immediate replacement isnot-possible. One of the usual methods for lubricating rollers involvesthe supply of `lubricant for a certain period .ofv time, afterwhichperiod it is assumed that the 'roller is-properly lubricated. It will beseen, however, that a roller which is nearly Worn out will require.greater quantities of lubricant than a roller in better condition. f A

The invention contemplates and -haslfor its principal objecttheprovision of meansvinsuring the proper lubrication to the track rollersof a track-type tractor. -v -4 1 v Another., object ofI the inventionisi the provi- Original application June 16, 1941, Serial No. 398,206.lDivided and this application October 26,1942, Serial No. 463,353

` s Claims. (01. 1s4-7) f sion on the tractor of a lubricantreservoirhaving conduits leading to the ro1lers-each roller inv turn beingprovided with areturn conduit for venting the roller to accommodateexpansion of the air and lubricant within the roller upon overheating ofthe roller.v y f Another'i object is` to utilizeva lubricant-containingpart of the tractor as'a supply means or reservoir. Specifically, anObjectis to utilize the transmission,` casing of the tractor asareservoir.

- A further understanding of the foregoing and other desirable objectsand' features of .the invention may be had from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheetsofdrawings, in whicht Figure-1 is a-'side-elevationalview, showing atrack-type tractor including a preferred form of Although theinventionhas been illustrated in connection with the track rollers of atrack-type tractor, it is to be understood that in its broader aspectsthe invention embodies fundamental principles that are capable ofapplication to other structures and uses, and, accordingly, Vit'is notdesired that the invention be limited to the preferred forms illustratedand described. Y

, Thetractor chosen for the purposes of illustration, as shown in Figure1, comprises generally a longitudinal main frame I0 carried on a pair oftransversely spaced track mechanisms, only one of which is shown,indicated generally at II. Each track mechanism includes alongitudinally extending trackframe I2, connected at its rear end by abracket I3 to av transverse shaft I4, on which is carried the tractordrive wheel or sprocket I5. The front end of the track frame isassociated in the usual mannerwith a front idler Wheel I6, and a trackchain-I1 is trained about the wheels I5 and I6. t f

The track frame I2 carries a plurality of 'longitudinally spaced,horizontally disposed supports in the form of roller shafts'I 8, each ofwhich carries Va track roller I9. The rollers 4I9 engage and ride" onthe inner portions of theftrack chain Il and support the tractor in\ theusual manner..I

A typical roller construction is shown in detail in Figure 2, whereinthe track frame I2 is shown as comprising a transverse member whichcross-connects a pair of longitudinally extending channels 20. The trackroller shaft I8 spans the lower portions ,of the channels20, and isrigidly andd non-,rotatably carried thereby, vthe outer ends of theshaft 'being reduced and iiattened for that purpose. In the particularform of construction illustrated, the central portion of the shaft I8 isenlarged to form a pocket for chamber 2l to provide means for receivinga quantity of lubricant. The chamber is formed in the shaft by a centralcylindrical portion including a cylindrical wall 22 which is; providedwith a plurality of'openings or bores 23, 'communicating with a bearingsurface provided between .the'outer cylindrical surface of the centralshaft part andla cylindrical bushing 24. The bushing 24 carries a trackroller I9. Opposite end portions of the roller are provided `withsealing means .25 which may '-be of any .suitable'construction Thes'haftI8zis provided with a generally .axially directedbore 26 vwhichcommunicates between one end 'of the lshaft and the lubricant chamber2l. To this bore or `passage is connected a conduit 4or supply `line 2l,leading to a common .deliverypipe 28 'which is :associated with thelower portion of a lubricant reservoir in the .form vor" a tank .29carried on the `track frame I2. It will Abe understood that there is aplurality .of vconduits 2l, one for each of the rollers I9. The means4just described provides for an Iadequate and equalized supply oflubricant to the rollers.

It was previously stated that the track rollers were subject ltooverheating, 'under which .conditions .the Ilubricant and air rin thechambers 2l expanded toacomparatively great extent, ywith the resultthat the seals, such as the seals 25, -wereadversely aected. In orderthat .theseconditions may' be overcome, :the present inventioncontemplates :means -for venting=-the chambers 2l. To this-end,leachshaft-I `I8 is iprovided with afsecond bore or passage 30, communicatingat one lend -with ythe chamber 2I v(through -an opening) fandat itsother end, with the upper portion of the l'lubricant reservoir 29. The:latter connection is made by means roi a conduit 13|, leadingtofacommon conduit-32 which isin turn .connected to an upper .portion.of the tank 29. `Asshovvn'in Figure l, each lofthe shafts I8isprovidedwith a similar conduit .3L

. .Inithe modified form of` construction illustrated in --Figures .3 and4, the invention in Ythat Vrespect consists of the utilizationv of agearvhousing as the reservoir from whichlubricant-is supplied -to thetractorlrollers. .In so far as .thegeneral tractor constructionillustrated. in Figure .3 accords -With that shown in Figure l, .thereference'characters .designating the parts are thesame.

, As shown in Figure 4, an intermediatepor-ticn of the tractor body v,I0. consistsl ofzthe usual i transmission gear housing 4I Whichforms achamber y42 adapted .tocontain a supply of lubricanttof-the levelindicated.` ,Lubricant supply.means iis .-connected -between the gear-housing and the track -roller .and preferablytakesthe formera flexibleconduit-.or hose'- 43 L which is connected `at one fend to a point inthe housing below the-lubrvicant-.leveL and, `'at its other end, -tothecommon vdelivery .pipe 28 which 1 is Vconnected yby.'meansxcf-.theiplurality of conduits Z'I-tO-.themassages-ZB in'zthe`track roller shafts i118. .The conduitiisgpreferably -flexiblelbecauseofi the relative movement between the V.tractor tbody and :the :trackiframes. rMeans.

is provided for venting the lubricant-containing pockets 2I in theshafts I8 to the chamber 42 in the transmission housing 4i and thismeans preferably takes the form of a flexible conduit 44 connected atone end, as at 45, to the gear housing and, at its other` end, to acommon conduit 32 which 'is connected through .the plurality of conduits3l to the' passages '30 in the track roller shafts I8. The connection 45of the conduit 44 to the transmission housing is above the lubricantcontained in the housing. In this respect the principle of the inventionherein illustrated is similar to that peculiar to the constructionillus- `trated in v'Figure l that is to say, the venting con- .level of.the lubricant.

In the luse ofthe construction illustrated in Figures 1 .and 2, thereservoir 2B is iilled with lubricant to the level indicated. By thismeans an equal supply of lubricant is insured to each of .the rollersI9, assuming that these rollers are in perfect condition. :In the eventthat any one or more of the rollers is Worn yto agreater extent than:any of the others, that roller or rollers will .receive ,an additionalsupply of lubricant necessary to ,accommodate .the differences due toitsWorn condition. IInasrnuch as the conduits 3.0 and 3l provide forlventing of the chambers ,2I vback to the tank 2.9, the supply oflubricant will not .be obstructed by :air entrapped in the pockets orchambers 2l or in-'other parts vof the system. .It has been found, inthe operation of tractors .of .the ltype illustrated, that lthe rollersafter becom- `ingoverheated are Voften subjected to operating conditionswhich `cause a sudden chilling of the rollers. Such chilling occursforexample, when the tractoris driven through water deep enough to contactthe rollers. Because of the heat generated before chillingfthe' chambers2| contain .a y'certain -volume of Vexpanded air .and lubricant. Thisvolume .immediately :contracts upon chilling of the roller, `with theresult :that the .Water is drawn in around `the seals 25. Because of:the vventing .provision 4in the .preferred .construction illustrated,there is no 'opportunityfor ythe lubricant and-air to form anexpandedvolume in the .chambers -2 I. Consequently, there 1is -littleAor :no contraction of air, vapor, or lubricant Vwhen .the rollersarechilled, and, hence, there is little :or no4 suction created onthe'seals 25. Moreover, be .cause Y of the vcontinuous vsupply Voflubricant :Irom .the reservoir 29,there Willfbeavailable quantities ofoil suicient to ll .the space vacated by what .evercontracti-on'of airor .vapor does zoccur.

The functional characteristics o1" the :lubricatingsystem illustratedinFigures 3 ande are substantially identical, because lof ithe systemAillus trated in ,'Figures 1 and I2,the.onlyfdiierenceP-be- .ingr in thesource OfJubricantsupply. :Sincethese .two `modiiications are :verysimilar in .use ...and operation, v,it is unnecessary to iparticularizevthe ruse :and :operation of @the modiication .shown lin Figures;5;-and6.

fAspreviously :statedthe .principles of the present :invent-ion arezapplicable iin .ima-ny instances outsideftheparticularield'inavchichzthetinvention has: been herein illustrated.:Itiwillrbeappreciated .also that :only :preferred ,forms .of iztheinvention have :beenl illustrated.'andidescribedu and .that xnumerousmodications and ;alterations .may be made 1 therein without f departingfrom :the spirit yand scope. of :the :invention: as defmedr'in a thelap-.pendedclaims i Whatis claimedis:

A1. Inatractorrofathe:track-laying; typeshaving a body provided with atransmission gear housing adapted to contain lubricant at a level belowthe,

top of the housing, said tractor further includil a track frame, thecombination with the housi,` and frame of a plurality of track rollermeans carried by the frame, eachv including a shaft car,- ried by theframe and having a lubricant pocket and a pair of lubricant passagestherein com'- municating with said pocket, a roller carried l'by eachshaft and rotatable with respect .to y.the frame, a plurality of conduitmeans connected between the gear housing at a point below Vthe lubricantlevel therein and one of each ofthe passages of the shaft to supplylubricant from said housing, and a plurality of condult'means connectedbetween the gear housing at a p oint above the lubricant level and eachof the other passages in the shafts and serving to vent .the pockets inthe shafts to said housing.

2. In a tractor of the track-laying type including' a body having a gearhousing adapted to contain lubricant and having a track frame,l thecombination with the housing and frame oi a plurality of track rollermeans carried by the frame, each including a shaft carried by the frameand having a lubricant pocket and a. pair of lubricant passages thereincommunicating with said pocket, a roller carried by` each shaft androtat- 3. In a tractor of the track-laying type having a track frame,the combination with the housing and frame of a plurality of trackroller means carried by the frame, each including a shaft carried by theframe and having a lubricant pocket and a pair of lubricant passagestherein com-l municating with said pocket, a roller carried by eachshaft and rotatable with `respect to the frame, lubricant supply meansvcomprising a reservoir carried by the track frame and adapted i tocontain lubricant, a plurality of conduit means l connecting said meansand one of each ofthel passages in the shafts to supply lubricant fromthe reservoir, and a plurality of conduit means connecting thereservoir' above lubricant level and each'of the other passages in theshafts and serving to vent the pockets in the shafts to the supplymeans.

-W1LLIAM O. BECHMAN.

the shafts to the housn'

